CAT EXAM: Exam Dates, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus, Application Form, Question Papers
- Candidates must have earned their undergraduate degree with at least a 50% grade point average (45% for restricted categories) in order to be eligible for the CAT.
- On October 25, 2023, candidates who successfully register for the exam can download their admission cards. It will contain information on the CAT 2023 exam's date, location, and start time.
- The test consists of three portions, each with 66 questions: VARC, DILR, and QA. The exam has a 120-minute time limit.
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CAT 2023 Exam Timeline
Event | Exam Timeline |
|---|---|
CAT 2023 Official Notification | 30th July 2023 |
Start Date for Registration | 2nd August 2023 |
Last Date for Registration | 13th September 2023 |
Admit Card Release Date | 25th October 2023 |
CAT 2023 Exam Date | 26th November 2023 |
About CAT 2023
The most popular entrance exam for MBA admissions to prestigious B-schools is the Common Admission Test, which is administered annually by the IIMs. For the class of 2024–26, students will be able to apply to IIMs and other prestigious institutions through CAT 2023.
Before being chosen for the institution’s subsequent selection processes, candidates for admission to MBA programmes must pass this exam and meet the cut-offs.
The highlights of CAT 2023 are listed below:
Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Name | Common Admission Test |
Official Website | www.iimcat.ac.in |
Conducting Body | IIM Lucknow |
Frequency | Annual |
Registration Mode | Online |
Exam Mode | Online |
No. of Questions | 66 |
Time Allotted | 120 minutes |
Types of Questions | MCQs and TITA |
Sections in the Exam | 3 Sections; VARC, DILR, and QA |
Medium of Exam | English |
CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
Students who match the requirements can apply via the CAT application form 2023, which started on August 2. Therefore, it is crucial that each candidate is aware of the requirements before signing up for the exam.
- The candidate must have a bachelor's degree in any field and a minimum overall and NC-OBC score of 50%. For candidates who are SC, ST, or PWD, a 45% is needed.
- Undergraduate candidates in their final year may also take the exam with the goal of graduating with the necessary scores. Candidates will have their admission revoked if they do not offer the same information during admissions.
- Anyone who meets the above requirements and is at least 18 years old is welcome to apply for CAT 2023.
- A professional degree, such as a CA, CS, or ICWA, makes applicants for the CAT 2023 eligible as well.
CAT 2023 Registration Process
Candidates must register for the CAT 2023 exam online at iimcat.ac.in, which is the official website. The processes to complete the CAT application form 2023 are listed below, along with the costs and paperwork needed to register.
- Candidates must click on "new candidate registration" on the official website, enter the necessary information, and submit.
- Upon verification, candidates will receive a unique user ID and password on the registered email and mobile number.
- The information asked in the CAT application form 2023 can now be filled out by candidates.
- Along with choosing the Interview City, the candidate must also choose the programmes of their choice.
- The candidate can choose 6 preferred test cities for the CAT exam.
Documents Required-
Additionally, the candidate must upload the necessary files in the format specified while completing the CAT application form .
Document | Format |
|---|---|
Photo | .jpg/.jpeg |
Signature | .jpg/.jpeg |
EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate | |
PwD Certificate |
Application Fee-
After filling all the details in the CAT application form 2023, the candidate must make the payment to complete the registration process.
- The application fee for General, EWS, and NC-OBC is INR 2,400.
- The application fee for PwD, SC, and ST is INR 1,200.
- The only way to pay the charge is online.
- The applicant will have the option to examine the entire form before submitting it and paying the fee for CAT 2023.
- The candidates will get a confirmation email shortly after a successful payment.
CAT Exam Pattern
The CAT exam has three places available. The material and exam format are the same for all slots, however the level of difficulty may change. Here is a summary of the exam format:
CAT 2023 | Details |
|---|---|
Mode of Examination | Online (Computer-based) |
Medium of Examination | English |
Total Questions | 66 |
Questions Per Section | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
Time Allotted | 120 minutes |
Time Allotted per Section | 40 minutes each |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer) |
Marking Scheme | +3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking |
CAT Syllabus
The current CAT exam is broken into three portions, just like all prior CAT exams. Although the exam has no set syllabus, the CAT syllabus 2023 places a lot of emphasis on school-based English and maths. The division of the three exam portions is shown below:
Section | No. of Questions | Time Allotted | Main Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | Reading comprehension, parajumbles, parasummary, verbal reasoning, etc. |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | Charts, graphs, arrangements, blood relations, puzzles, etc. |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | Algebra, arithmetic, number systems, geometry, etc. |
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CAT Syllabus 2023: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading comprehension and verbal ability are the two key components of the VARC portion. The reading comprehension element of the VARC is a significant component and consists of paragraphs of various lengths with MCQ and TITA questions. The verbal aptitude test includes parajumbles, strange phrases, etc.
CAT Syllabus 2023: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Data interpretation is answering a series of questions based on numerous graphs, charts, and other ways of presenting data. Direct data extraction from the provided charts is required to provide the answers. There are extra sets of questions based on seat assignments, kinship relationships, puzzles, etc. under the logical reasoning part.
CAT Syllabus 2023: Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- This section focuses on maths because school maths is the only subject included in the QA syllabus. LCM and HCF, trigonometry, mensuration, probability, etc. are among the topics covered. The IIMs have recently lessened the difficulty of this segment.
FAQs
No, the CAT is only held once a year, typically in November. According to the announcement, three spots will be available for the exam on November 26, 2023.
Yes, you can prepare for the CAT in one year and ace it. To pass the CAT after a year of study, candidates must keep a productive study schedule and practise frequently.
There is no age restriction, hence there is no restriction on how many times you can take the CAT. Candidates must, however, satisfy the fundamental qualifying requirements, which call for a bachelor’s degree with at least a 50% average.
